Image Display Method and Program

ABSTRACT

To improve ease of operation with which a user selects an image when many images are simultaneously displayed on a screen, a frame, which divides many images into 12 areas, is superimposed and displayed on a screen displaying thumbnail exhibition thereon. For example, the press of a channel key allows selecting one of the areas and moving to the selected area a focus frame indicating a candidate image for selection, and then the presses of cursor keys allow moving the focus frame to a desired image to be selected. The number of areas can be changed and displayed according to the number of channel keys when a television remote control is used, or according to the number of numeric keys when a mobile telephone is used.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image display method and a program,and more particularly to an image display method and a program which aresuitable for application to an image display device having the functionsof reproducing or displaying images picked up by a digital still camera,a digital video camera, or the like, an image display method possessedby a digital television, and an application software program whichpermits an image display device or the like to execute an image displaymethod.

2. Description of the Related Art

A larger number of images can be picked up by one memory card against abackdrop of a larger capacity of a storage medium, in particular amemory card, for use in a digital still camera (hereinafter referred tosimply as a “DSC”) or a digital video camera (hereinafter referred tosimply as a “DVC”). Moreover, picking up many images leads to increasinguser needs for thumbnail image exhibition which permits displaying moreimages on one screen and selecting a desired image to be viewed fromamong the displayed images. Furthermore, the widespread use of digitaltelevision broadcasts yields further digitization of a television set(hereinafter referred to simply as a “television” or a “TV”), and thusresults in the emergence of products which do not use a personalcomputer (hereinafter referred to simply as a “PC”) to view images butcan use a television to view images picked up by a DSC or a DVC.

The related art will be described below with reference to the drawings.FIG. 2 shows an example of thumbnail exhibition for many images, andFIG. 3 shows a television remote control.

Referring to FIG. 2, numeral 201 denotes a full television displayscreen, numeral 202 denotes a focus frame indicating a candidate imagefor selection, numeral 203 denotes a candidate image display whichdisplays on a sub-screen an image currently focused by the focus frame202 and its file name, and numeral 204 denotes a thumbnail image onthumbnail exhibition, which is diagonally opposite to the imagecurrently focused by the focus frame 202.

Referring to FIG. 3, numeral 301 denotes a set of four cursor keys whichpermit four-directional movements, that is, up, down, right, and leftmovements, of the focus frame indicated by numeral 202 in FIG. 2,numeral 302 denotes an Enter key which is used to display a focusedimage on the full television display screen 201 shown in FIG. 2, andnumeral 303 denotes a set of channel keys, each of which is used toselect a television channel.

Because of a larger display screen of a plasma display, a liquid crystaldisplay, or the like, a television using such a display does not havethe occurrence of display of too small thumbnails, even when thetelevision gives thumbnail exhibition containing a total of 48thumbnails, that is, 8 thumbnails wide by 6 thumbnails long, as shown inFIG. 2. This makes it possible to display many images on one screen. Auser can operate the television in the following manner: the user usesthe cursor keys 301 of the remote control shown in FIG. 3 to move thefocus frame 202 and select a desired candidate image to be displayed;and then the user presses the Enter key 302 to display the selectedimage on the full television display screen 201.

Display methods for displaying many images include, for example, amethod disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No.2001-306375, which involves displaying many images overlapping oneanother, and changing the positions of the images so that the imageshave varying exposed portions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, a problem exists as given below. When a television givesthumbnail exhibition as shown in FIG. 2, a user has difficulty inoperating a remote control for full-screen display. More specifically,when an orderly arrangement of a few tens of images, for example, 20images or more, is simultaneously displayed on one screen, the operationfor selecting one image from among the displayed images does notprogress smoothly. Thus, the thumbnail exhibition shown in FIG. 2 hasthe problem of impairing ease of use.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an imagedisplay method which improves ease of operation with which a userselects an image when many images such as various thumbnail exhibitionsare simultaneously displayed on a screen.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an imagedisplay method including the steps of: selecting an image from among aplurality of images simultaneously displayed on an image display screen;and superimposing and displaying an auxiliary image on the screen onwhich the plurality of images are simultaneously displayed for selectingthe range of candidate images from the plurality of images displayed onthe screen.

According to the present invention, an auxiliary image facilitatesselecting candidate images from among many images and narrowing down thecandidate images. Therefore, the image display method of the presentinvention can improve ease of operation with which a user selects animage.

Desirably, the range of candidate images for selection is selectedthrough a unit operation of operating means, and one image is selectedfrom the selected range of candidate images through another operation.Alternatively, the range of candidate images for selection may beselected through operation of a first key of the operating means forselecting the image, and one image may be selected from the selectedrange through operation of a second key. Referring to, for example, FIG.2, a user must perform a total of at least 13 operations of a remotecontrol, such as at least 12 presses of cursor keys and one press of anEnter key, in order that the user may use cursor keys 301 shown in FIG.3 to move a focus frame from the position of an image focused by acurrent focus frame 202 to the position of an image indicated by numeral204 and to display the image 204 on a full television display screen201. The image display method of the present invention can eliminate theneed for at least 13 operations of the remote control, and thus solvethe problem of impairing ease of operation.

The auxiliary image sets a plurality of areas, each of which containscandidate images for selection, on the screen on which the plurality ofimages is simultaneously displayed. Desirably, the method furtherincludes the step of changing and displaying the number of areasaccording to the number of area selecting means, each of whichcorresponds to each of the areas and selects the corresponding area.

The area selecting means may comprise means for selecting a televisionchannel, such as a remote control having keys such as push buttons, arotary dial, or a stick, or may comprise means for operating atelephone, such as a mobile telephone having the same or similar keys.

The present invention also provides an image display method fordisplaying an image on a screen, which includes the steps of: selectingan image from among a plurality of images simultaneously displayed onthe screen; rotating at least one of the plural images by apredetermined angle θ (0°<θ<360°) with respect to a reference directionin the screen, and displaying the rotated image; and displaying theselected image so that the image is oriented in the reference direction,when the image displayed as rotated by the angle θ is selected.

According to the present invention, a plurality of images is arranged atdifferent angles, whereas a selected image is oriented in the referencedirection. This facilitates visual recognition of images and thuspermits an improvement in ease of operation.

Preferably, three or more images are rotated by the predetermined angleθ and are displayed in their rotated positions, and the angles θ ofrotation of the images are different from one another.

Images of the plural images belonging to a first group may be spaced atpredetermined intervals and arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, imagesbelonging to a second group may be spaced at predetermined intervals andarranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and the respective images of thefirst and second groups may be spaced and arranged at intervals, each ofwhich is shorter than the predetermined interval.

The above-described image display method can be provided via a mediumsuch as a storage medium or the Internet, in the form of a softwareprogram which permits a controller of an image display device such as atelevision set to execute the image display method.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with further advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image displaydevice according to first, second, third, fourth, fifth and seventhembodiments, which the present invention is to be applied to;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an example of thumbnail exhibition for manyimages according to the related art and the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a remote control according to the relatedart;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of operation according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a conceptual illustration of the order of rendering accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a remote control according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an example of thumbnail exhibition for manyimages according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an example of thumbnail exhibition for manyimages according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of an example of thumbnail exhibition for manyimages according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of operation according to the second embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a conceptual illustration of the arrangement of thumbnailimages in the thumbnail exhibition for many images according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a conceptual illustration of the arrangement of thumbnailimages in the thumbnail exhibition for many images according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of an example of thumbnail exhibition formany images according to the second and fifth embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 is an illustration of an example of thumbnail exhibition formany images according to the second and third embodiments of the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is an illustration of overlap portions of a plurality of imagesaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is an illustration of a remote control according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is an illustration of an example of thumbnail exhibition formany images according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is an illustration of an example of thumbnail exhibition formany images according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is an illustration of an example of thumbnail exhibition formany images according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is an illustration of an example of thumbnail exhibition formany images according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is an illustration of an example of thumbnail exhibition formany images according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image displaydevice according to a sixth embodiment, which the present invention isto be applied to;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of operation according to the sixth embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 24 is an illustration of an example of thumbnail exhibition formany images according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is an illustration of a mobile terminal according to the sixthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is an illustration of an example of thumbnail exhibition formany images according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is an illustration of a remote control according to the seventhembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 28 is an illustration of an example of thumbnail exhibition formany images according to the seventh embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an image display device according tothe first embodiment, which the present invention is to be applied to.As shown in FIG. 1, numeral 101 denotes a memory card controller, andnumeral 102 denotes a CPU (central processing unit) which executes animage display method according to the present invention, which isprovided in the form of software. Numeral 103 denotes a memory, numeral104 denotes a photo-detector, numeral 105 denotes a remote control,numeral 106 denotes a control bus, numeral 107 denotes a TV controller,numeral 108 denotes an image decoder, numeral 109 denotes a screenlayout, numeral 110 denotes a display controller, and numeral 111denotes an image display. The TV controller 107 has facilities forreceiving a TV broadcasting signal through an antenna (not shown) anddisplaying a TV program on the image display 111.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of operation, which takes place between theconnection of a memory card (not shown) to the memory card controller101 shown in FIG. 1 and the display of thumbnail exhibition shown inFIG. 2 on the image display 111.

In step 401 of FIG. 4, a user first connects the memory card to thememory card controller 101 shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the memorycard has many independent images stored therein, and the images are, forexample, pictures taken by a DSC, a DVC, or the like.

In step 402 of FIG. 4, when the memory card controller 101 shown in FIG.1 detects the connection of the memory card, the memory card controller101 transmits to the CPU 102 information indicating the detection ofconnection.

In step 403 of FIG. 4, under control of the CPU 102 shown in FIG. 1,display data required for thumbnail image exhibition (except forthumbnail image data), such as background data to be displayed on a fulldisplay screen 201 shown in FIG. 2, is transferred via the control bus106 to the screen layout 109, which then lays out a screen using thedisplay data.

In step 404 of FIG. 4, under control of the CPU 102, the display data istransferred to the display controller 110 shown in FIG. 1, which thencauses the image display 111 to render and display the display data onthe screen.

In step 405 of FIG. 4, under control of the CPU 102 shown in FIG. 1, oneof image files stored in the memory card is read into the memory 103 viathe control bus 106 and the memory card controller 101.

In step 406 of FIG. 4, under control of the CPU 102 shown in FIG. 1,thumbnail image information is extracted from the image file read intothe memory 103.

In step 407 of FIG. 4, under control of the CPU 102 shown in FIG. 1, theextracted thumbnail image information is supplied to the image decoder108, which then decodes the thumbnail image.

In step 408 of FIG. 4, the thumbnail image data decoded in the precedingstep is supplied to the display controller 110 shown in FIG. 1, whichthen causes the image display 111 to render and display the thumbnailimage data on the screen.

The above-mentioned steps 405 to 408 of FIG. 4 are repeatedly executedtimes equivalent to the number of images that can be simultaneouslydisplayed on one screen. Thus, rendering takes place as shown by thearrows of FIG. 5, starting with the upper left corner and ending withthe lower right corner. More specifically, images are rendered insequence so that an image is first rendered at the position indicated bynumeral 501 and an image is finally rendered at the position indicatedby numeral 502. At the completion of thumbnail exhibition of apredetermined number of images, the processing goes to step 410, wherethe processing ends. In the first embodiment, the predetermined numberof images is set to 48. When the number of image files stored in thememory card is less than 48, the processing, however, goes to and endsin step 410 at the completion of thumbnail exhibition of all imagesstored in the memory card.

Next, the description is given with reference to the drawings withregard to operation, which a user performs so as to select an imageindicated by numeral 204 from the thumbnail exhibition shown in FIG. 2and display the image 204 on the full screen.

FIG. 6 shows the remote control according to the first embodiment. InFIG. 6, parts having the same reference numerals as the parts shown inFIG. 3 have the same functions, and numeral 601 denotes a frame key.

When the thumbnail exhibition shown in FIG. 2 is displayed, the userpresses the frame key 601 shown in FIG. 6. Thus, a screen shown in FIG.7 appears. As shown in FIG. 7, an auxiliary image 701 shows displayframes, each of which selects a thumbnail image display area. Eachdisplay frame has one each of numeric values from 1 to 12, bothinclusive, which are further displayed as auxiliary images. The numberof thumbnail image display areas corresponds to the number of channelkeys (that is, area selecting means) indicated by numeral 303 in FIG. 6.In the first embodiment, the number of channel keys is set to 12.

To select the image indicated by numeral 204 in FIG. 7 (which is thesame as numeral 204 in FIG. 2), the user first presses the channel key“12” of the channel keys indicated by numeral 303 in FIG. 6. Thus, thescreen changes to a screen shown in FIG. 8. As mentioned above, theauxiliary images to limit the range of candidate images for selectionare superimposed and displayed on the screen on which many images aresimultaneously displayed. This facilitates narrowing down candidateimages. The range of candidate images for selection is selected througha unit operation of a first key (that is, the channel keys) of operatingmeans for selecting an image.

Numeral 801 in FIG. 8 indicates the same focus frame as the focus framedesignated by numeral 202 in FIGS. 2 and 7. When thumbnail exhibition isdisplayed as shown in FIG. 8, the user uses the cursor keys (that is,operating means) 301 shown in FIG. 6 so as to move the focus frame 801to the position of the thumbnail image indicated by numeral 204 in FIG.8 (which is the same as numeral 204 in FIG. 7). Then, the user pressesan Enter key 302 shown in FIG. 6 so as to display the image on the fullscreen. As mentioned above, one of the channel keys is operated toselect a group of images, and then a second key (that is, the cursorkeys and the Enter key) is operated to select one image from the groupof images. This allows a further improvement in ease of operation.

As described above, according to the method of the first embodiment, atotal of at least four user operations of the remote control, that is,one press of the frame key, at least two presses of the cursor keys, andone press of the Enter key, allows selecting and displaying the imageindicated by numeral 204, when starting at the position of the imagefocused by the focus frame 202 shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, the method ofthe first embodiment can reduce the number of operations by 9 and thussolve the problem of impairing ease of operation, as compared to theprior art having the foregoing problem of requiring at least 13operations.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the drawings. The configuration of an image displaydevice according to the second embodiment, which the present inventionis to be applied to, is the same as the configuration of the imagedisplay device according to the first embodiment shown in a blockdiagram of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 shows thumbnail exhibition according to the second embodiment.The thumbnail exhibition shown in FIG. 9 is such that exhibition of moreimages is displayed on one screen, and that users receive the impressionthat printed silver halide photographs are scattered on a desk so as toselect a photograph.

In the thumbnail exhibition, at least one (for example, 47 images) ofmany images is displayed as rotated by a predetermined angle θ(0°<θ<360°) with respect to reference directions in the screen. Asemployed herein, the reference directions refer to a directionhorizontal to the widthwise side of the image and a direction parallelto the lengthwise side thereof, which are parallel to the widthwise andlengthwise sides, respectively, of the screen.

Referring to FIG. 9, numeral 901 denotes a full television displayscreen, numeral 902 denotes a focus frame indicating a current candidateimage for selection, numeral 903 denotes a candidate image display whichdisplays on a sub-screen an image currently focused by the focus frame902 and its file name, and numeral 904 denotes a thumbnail image onthumbnail exhibition, which is diagonally opposite to the imagecurrently focused by the focus frame 902.

FIG. 10 shows the flow of operation, which takes place between theconnection of a memory card (not shown) to the memory card controller101 shown in FIG. 1 and the display of thumbnail exhibition shown inFIG. 9 on the image display 111.

In step 1001 of FIG. 10, a user connects the memory card to the memorycard controller 101 shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the memory card hasmany images stored therein, which are picked up by a DSC, a DVC, or thelike.

In step 1002 of FIG. 10, when the memory card controller 101 shown inFIG. 1 detects the connection of the memory card, the memory cardcontroller 101 supplies to the CPU 102 information indicating thedetection of connection.

In step 1003 of FIG. 10, under control of the CPU 102 shown in FIG. 1,display data required for thumbnail image exhibition (except forthumbnail image data), specifically such as background data to bedisplayed on the full display screen 901 shown in FIG. 9, is transferredvia the control bus 106 to the screen layout 109, which then lays out ascreen using the display data.

In step 1004 of FIG. 10, the display data is supplied to the displaycontroller 110, which then causes the image display 111 to render anddisplay the display data.

In step 1005 of FIG. 10, under control of the CPU 102 shown in FIG. 1,one of image files stored in the memory card is read into the memory 103via the control bus 106 and the memory card controller 101.

In step 1006 of FIG. 10, under control of the CPU 102 shown in FIG. 1,an index value is assigned to the read image file. In step 1007 of FIG.10, thumbnail image information is extracted from the image file.

The above-mentioned steps 1005 to 1007 of FIG. 10 are repeatedlyexecuted times equivalent to the number of images that can besimultaneously displayed on one screen. FIG. 11 shows, in virtualrepresentation, the index values assigned to the images in step 1006 andthe relative positions of the images. FIG. 12 shows only a partindicated by numeral 1101 in FIG. 11. FIG. 11 does not show the imagesas actually rendered and displayed on the image display 111 shown inFIG. 1 but virtually shows the index values and the relative positionsof the images as mentioned above. Referring to FIG. 11, numerals 1102,1103, 1104, 1105, and 1106 denote the images having the assigned indexvalues 0, 1, 8, 9, and 48, respectively.

When the above-mentioned steps 1005 to 1007 of FIG. 10 are repeatedlyexecuted, the index value is assigned to each image in step 1006 so thatthe index value is incremented by 1, starting at 0, each time the imagefile is read in. The relative positions of the thumbnail images havingthe index values 0 to 47 shown in FIG. 11 are the same as the relativepositions of the thumbnail images of the thumbnail exhibition shown inFIG. 2. Thus, the image focused by the focus frame 202 shown in FIG. 2corresponds to the image having the index value 0 shown in FIG. 11, andthe image indicated by numeral 204 in FIG. 2 corresponds to the imagehaving the index value 47 shown in FIG. 11. The same reference numeralsin FIG. 12 as the reference numerals in FIG. 11 indicate the sameimages, and numeral 1201 in FIG. 12 denotes the position of the centerof the image having the index value 48, which is designated by numeral1106 in FIG. 11. The images having the index values 48 to 82 shown inFIG. 11 are arranged in the following manner. As shown in FIG. 12 takingas an example the image 1106 having the index value 48, the image 1106having the index value 48 is positioned relative to four images 1102 to1105 around the image 1106 so that the center of the image 1106 havingthe index value 48 coincides with the point of intersection of a lineconnecting the upper left corner of the image 1102 having the indexvalue 0 to the lower right corner of the image 1105 having the indexvalue 9 and a line connecting the upper right corner of the image 1103having the index value 1 to the lower left corner of the image 1104having the index value 8. In the second embodiment, the maximum numberof images that are arranged on one screen in this manner is set to 83.In other words, the images, of many images mentioned above, belonging toa first group (that is, the images having the index values 0 to 47) arespaced at predetermined intervals and arranged in a two-dimensionalmatrix, and the images belonging to a second group (that is, the imageshaving the index values 48 to 82) are spaced at predetermined intervalsand arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. Then, the respective images ofthe first and second groups are spaced and arranged at shorterintervals, each of which is equal to half the predetermined interval.Thus, the reference positions of the images are determined. Thereafter,as will be described later, each image is rotated in a plane about itscenter at its reference position, and thus the order of overlapping isdetermined. Thus, all the images are displayed with efficiency.

In step 1008 of FIG. 10, under control of the CPU 102 shown in FIG. 1,determination is then made as to whether a maximum number of images,that is, 83 images, are read in or whether all the images stored in thememory card are read in. At the completion of reading (Yes in step1008), the processing goes to a next step.

In step 1009 of FIG. 10, under control of the CPU 102 shown in FIG. 1,the angle θ of rotation of each thumbnail image (0°<θ<360°) isdetermined in ascending order of index value. Incidentally, a referencedirection is set to a horizontal direction. In this step, a randomnumber is generated by software so that the angle θ of rotation liesbetween −180 and 180° (this range is equivalent to the range of from 0to 360°, both exclusive (0<θ<360)), or preferably between −90 and 90°.Thus, the generated random number value is used as the angle θ ofrotation of each image. For example when the random number value isequal to 47, the image is clockwise rotated by 47° about the imagecenter indicated by numeral 1201 in FIG. 12. When the random numbervalue is equal to −30, the image is counterclockwise rotated by 30°.Under control of the CPU 102 shown in FIG. 1, step 1009 is repeatedlyexecuted. Then, determination is made as to whether a maximum number ofimages, that is, 83 images, are read in or whether all the images storedin the memory card are read in (in step 1010 of FIG. 10). At thecompletion of reading (Yes in step 1010), the processing goes to a nextstep 1011.

In step 1011 of FIG. 10, under control of the CPU 102 shown in FIG. 1, arandom number is again generated for use in a later step 1013 ofdetermining the order in which the thumbnail images are to be rendered.In this case, software is configured to generate a random number lyingbetween 0 and 32767 inclusive. Under control of the CPU 102 shown inFIG. 1, step 1011 is repeatedly executed. Then, determination is made asto whether a maximum number of images, that is, 83 images, are read inor whether all the images stored in the memory card are read in (in step1012 of FIG. 10). At the completion of reading (Yes in step 1012), theprocessing goes to a next step.

In step 1013 of FIG. 10, the order of rendering is determined by sortingthe random number values generated in the above-mentioned step 1011 inascending numeric order. For example when the indexes 50 and 51 have therandom number values “1203” and “98”, respectively, the image having theindex 51 is rendered earlier than the image having the index 50. In thecase of the same random number value, an image having a smaller indexvalue is rendered earlier.

In step 1014 of FIG. 10, under control of the CPU 102 shown in FIG. 1,the thumbnail image extracted in the above-mentioned step 1007 is readfrom the memory 103 shown in FIG. 1 according to the order of renderingdetermined in the preceding step 1013. The thumbnail image is suppliedto the image decoder 108, which then decodes the thumbnail image (instep 1015 of FIG. 10). In step 1016 of FIG. 10, the decoded thumbnailimage data is supplied to the display controller 110 shown in FIG. 1,which then causes the image display 111 to render and display thethumbnail image.

The above-mentioned steps 1014 to 1016 of FIG. 10 are repeatedlyexecuted until a maximum number of images, that is, 83 images, are readin or all the images stored in the memory card are read in. Then, whenthe processing goes to and ends in step 1018, the thumbnail exhibitionshown in FIG. 9 is displayed.

Next, the description is given with reference to the drawings withregard to operation, which a user performs so as to select the imageindicated by numeral 904 from the thumbnail exhibition shown in FIG. 9and display the image 904 on the full screen. A remote control for usein the second embodiment is the same as the remote control according tothe first embodiment shown in FIG. 6. When the user selects at least oneof many images mentioned above, which is displayed as rotated by apredetermined angle θ (0°<θ<360°) with respect to the referencedirections in the screen, the image is displayed so that the image isoriented in accordance with the reference directions.

When the thumbnail exhibition shown in FIG. 9 is displayed, the userpresses the frame key 601 shown in FIG. 6. Thus, a screen shown in FIG.13 appears. As shown in FIG. 13, an auxiliary image 1301 shows displayframes, each of which selects a thumbnail image display area. Eachdisplay frame has one each of numeric values from 1 to 12, bothinclusive, which are further displayed as auxiliary images. The numberof thumbnail image display areas corresponds to the number of channelkeys (that is, area selecting means) indicated by numeral 303 in FIG. 6.In the second embodiment, the number of channel keys is set to 12, as inthe case of the first embodiment. To select the image indicated bynumeral 904, the user first presses the channel key “12” of the channelkeys indicated by numeral 303 in FIG. 6. Thus, a screen shown in FIG. 14appears.

Numeral 1401 in FIG. 14 indicates the same focus frame as the focusframe 902 shown in FIGS. 9 and 13. An image focused by the focus frame1401 is displayed so that the image is restored to its original positionand thus oriented in accordance with the reference directions. Then, thefocused image can be displayed on the full screen through the press ofthe Enter key 302 shown in FIG. 6. To improve the visibility of thefocused image and thus make it easy for the user to select the focusedimage, the focused thumbnail image is rotated so that four sides, thatis, top, bottom, right, and left sides, of the focused image areparallel to those of the full display screen 901, respectively.Moreover, the focused image is again rendered so that the focused imageis moved and thus superimposed at the topmost position on overlappingthumbnail images.

When thumbnail exhibition is displayed as shown in FIG. 14, the useruses the cursor keys (that is, operating means) 301 shown in FIG. 6 soas to move the focus frame 1401 to the position of the thumbnail imageindicated by numeral 904 in FIG. 14. Then, the user presses the Enterkey 302 shown in FIG. 6 so as to display the image on the full screen901.

When the thumbnail exhibition shown in FIG. 14 is displayed, two pressesof the cursor key that permits a downward movement enable moving thefocus frame 1401 to the position of the thumbnail image indicated bynumeral 904 in FIG. 14. In this case, the direction of movement of thecursor is determined according to the area of an overlap portion of thefocused image and each of plural images located in the direction ofmovement.

Numerals 1501 and 1502 in FIG. 15 indicate overlap portions of images.In the instance illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the area of the lowerright overlap portion 1502 is larger than the area of the lower leftoverlap portion 1501. Thus, the focus frame 1401 shown in FIG. 14 ismoved to a lower right image having the overlap portion having a largerarea.

As described above, a total of four or five operations of the remotecontrol, that is, one press of the frame key, at least two presses ofthe cursor keys or three presses of the cursor keys depending on thearea of the overlap portion as shown in FIG. 15, and one press of theEnter key, allows displaying the image indicated by numeral 904 on thefull screen, when starting at the position of the image focused by thefocus frame 902 shown in FIG. 9. Therefore, the method of the secondembodiment can reduce the number of operations by 9 or 8 and thusimprove ease of operation, as compared to the prior art having theforegoing problem of requiring 13 operations.

Third Embodiment

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to the drawings. The configuration of an image display deviceaccording to the third embodiment, which the present invention is to beapplied to, is the same as the configuration of the image display deviceaccording to the first and second embodiments shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 16shows a remote control for use in the third embodiment. In FIG. 16,parts having the same reference numerals as the parts shown in FIG. 6have the same functions. In FIG. 16, numeral 1601 denotes an assist key.

When the thumbnail exhibition of the above-mentioned second embodimentshown in FIG. 14 is displayed, a user presses the assist key 1601 shownin FIG. 16. Thus, a screen shown in FIG. 17 appears. Auxiliary images1701, 1702, 1703, and 1704 shown in FIG. 17 are assist display imageswhich indicate upward, rightward, downward, and leftward directions,respectively, in which the focus frame 1401 can be moved through thepresses of the up, right, down, and left cursor keys (that is, operatingmeans) 301 of the remote control shown in FIG. 16.

When thumbnail exhibition is displayed as shown in FIG. 17, the userpresses the assist key 1601 shown in FIG. 16. As shown by auxiliaryimages 1801, 1802, 1803, and 1804 shown in FIG. 18, the press of theassist key 1601 enables changing the positions of the assist displayimages which indicate the directions in which the focus frame 1401 canbe moved through the presses of the up, right, down, and left cursorkeys 301 of the remote control shown in FIG. 16.

Therefore, the method of the third embodiment allows the user to performoperation in accordance with the assist display images, and thus permitsthe user to move the focus frame 1401 and select any thumbnail imagewithout having difficulty in operating the cursor keys 301. Accordingly,the method of the third embodiment can improve ease of operation.

In particular when images, which overlap one another so as to bepartially exposed, are displayed as rotated or randomly arranged, it maybe difficult to determine which image can be selected by means of theup, down, right, or left key. In this case, the auxiliary images areeffective.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the drawings. The configuration of an image displaydevice according to the fourth embodiment, which the present inventionis to be applied to, is the same as the configuration of the imagedisplay device according to the first, second and third embodimentsshown in FIG. 1. FIG. 19 shows thumbnail exhibition according to thefourth embodiment.

The fourth embodiment is configured as shown in FIG. 19. Specifically, athumbnail image focused by a focus frame indicated by numeral 1902, andimages indicated by numerals 1903, 1904, and 1905, which are arrangedaround the focused image, are rotated so that four sides, that is, top,bottom, right, and left sides, of the focused image and the images 1903to 1905 are parallel to those of a full display screen 1901,respectively. Thus, the focused image and the images 1903 to 1905 aredisplayed so that the images are restored to their original positionsand thus oriented in accordance with the reference directions. Moreover,the focused image and the images 1903 to 1905 are again rendered so thatthe images are moved and thus superimposed at the topmost position onoverlapping thumbnail images. With this configuration, the press of thecursor keys (that is, operating means) 301 of the remote control shownin FIG. 6 allows determining a direction in which the focus frame 1902can be moved. In the thumbnail exhibition shown in FIG. 19, the imagefocused by the focus frame 1902 corresponds to the image having theindex value 0 shown in FIG. 11, the image 1903 corresponds to the imagehaving the index value 8 shown in FIG. 11, and the image 1904corresponds to the image having the index value 48 shown in FIG. 11.

As shown in FIG. 20, the maximum number of images that are againrendered around a thumbnail image focused by a cursor frame 2002 is setto 8. In thumbnail exhibition shown in FIG. 20, an image 2003corresponds to the image having the index value 74 shown in FIG. 11, animage 2004 corresponds to the image having the index value 30 shown inFIG. 11, an image 2005 corresponds to the image having the index value75 shown in FIG. 11, an image 2006 corresponds to the image having theindex value 39 shown in FIG. 11, an image 2007 corresponds to the imagehaving the index value 82 shown in FIG. 11, an image 2008 corresponds tothe image having the index value 46 shown in FIG. 11, an image 2009corresponds to the image having the index value 81 shown in FIG. 11, andan image 2010 corresponds to the image having the index value 37 shownin FIG. 11.

The above-described display method allows a user to move the focus frameand select any thumbnail image without having difficulty in operatingthe cursor keys 301 of the remote control shown in FIG. 6. Therefore,the method of the fourth embodiment can achieve a further improvement inease of operation.

Fifth Embodiment

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to the drawings. The configuration of an image display deviceaccording to the fifth embodiment, which the present invention is to beapplied to, is the same as the configuration of the image display deviceaccording to the first, second, third and fourth embodiments shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 21 shows a screen, which appears in situations where, when thethumbnail exhibition shown in FIG. 13 is displayed, a user presses thechannel key “1” of the channel keys (that is, area selecting means) 303of the remote control shown in FIG. 6. The screen shown in FIG. 21displays, in enlarged view, exhibition of only thumbnail imagesbelonging to the display frame “1” of the display frames indicated bynumeral 1301 in FIG. 13.

This display method allows the user to move the focus frame and selectany thumbnail image without having difficulty in operating the cursorkeys (that is, operating means) 301 of the remote control shown in FIG.6. Therefore, the method of the fifth embodiment can improve ease ofoperation. Incidentally, the screen displays, in reduced view, thethumbnail image exhibition shown in FIG. 13 on the left side thereof,and the screen also displays a button which gives an instruction toselect the display of the thumbnail exhibition shown in FIG. 13.

Sixth Embodiment

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described withreference to the drawings. FIG. 22 shows the configuration of an imagedisplay device according to the sixth embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 22, parts having the same reference numerals as theparts shown in FIG. 1 have the same functions. Referring to FIG. 22,numeral 2201 denotes a radio transmitter/receiver, and numeral 2202denotes a mobile terminal. FIG. 23 shows the flow of operation, whichtakes place when a user operates the mobile terminal 2202 shown in FIG.22 so as to display thumbnail image exhibition shown in FIG. 24. FIG. 25shows an example of the mobile terminal 2202 shown in FIG. 22. In thesixth embodiment, a mobile telephone is used as the mobile terminal2202.

Referring to FIG. 25, numeral 2501 denotes a set of four cursor keys(that is, operating means) which permit four-directional movements, thatis, up, down, right, and left movements, of the focus frame 202 shown inFIG. 24. Numeral 2502 denotes a set of numeric keys “1” to “9” (that is,area selecting means), numeral 2503 denotes a splat key “*”, numeral2504 denotes a numeric key “0”, and numeral 2505 denotes a splat key“#”.

In step 2301 of FIG. 23, when the user presses the splat key “*” 2503shown in FIG. 25, the mobile terminal 2202 sends a request signal forthumbnail exhibition to the radio transmitter/receiver 2201 shown inFIG. 22.

In step 2302 of FIG. 23, when the radio transmitter/receiver 2201detects the receipt of the signal from the mobile terminal 2202 shown inFIG. 22, the radio transmitter/receiver 2201 transmits to the CPU 102information indicating the detection of receipt.

In step 2303 of FIG. 23, upon receipt of the information indicating thedetection of receipt, the CPU 102 shown in FIG. 22 checks how manynumeric keys the mobile terminal 2202 has, via the control bus 106 andthe radio transmitter/receiver 2201.

In step 2304 of FIG. 23, the CPU 102 determines whether or not themobile terminal 2202 has 12 numeric keys “1” to “12”. When the mobileterminal 2202 does not have 12 numeric keys (No in step 2304), theprocessing goes to step 2305. When the mobile terminal 2202 has 12numeric keys (Yes in step 2304), the processing jumps to step 2312,where the processing ends.

In step 2305 of FIG. 23, under control of the CPU 102, display datarequired for thumbnail image exhibition (except for thumbnail imagedata), such as background data to be displayed on the full displayscreen 201 shown in FIG. 24, is transferred via the control bus 106 tothe screen layout 109, which then lays out a screen using the displaydata.

In step 2306 of FIG. 23, the display data is transferred to the displaycontroller 110, which then causes the image display 111 to render anddisplay the display data.

In step 2307 of FIG. 23, under control of the CPU 102 shown in FIG. 22,one of image files stored in a memory card (not shown) is read into thememory 103 via the control bus 106 and the memory card controller 101.

In step 2308 of FIG. 23, under control of the CPU 102 shown in FIG. 22,thumbnail image information is extracted from the image file read intothe memory 103.

In step 2309 of FIG. 23, under control of the CPU 102 shown in FIG. 22,the extracted thumbnail image information is supplied to the imagedecoder 108, which then decodes the thumbnail image.

In step 2310 of FIG. 23, the thumbnail image data decoded in thepreceding step is supplied to the display controller 110 shown in FIG.22, which then causes the image display 111 to render and display thethumbnail image data.

The above-mentioned steps 2307 to 2310 of FIG. 23 are repeatedlyexecuted times equivalent to the number of images that can besimultaneously displayed on one screen. Thus, thumbnail images arerendered in sequence. Rendering of thumbnail images ends in thefollowing manner: at the completion of thumbnail exhibition of apredetermined number of thumbnail images, the processing goes to step2312, where the processing ends. In the sixth embodiment, thepredetermined number of images is set to 54. When the number of imagefiles stored in the memory card is less than 54, the processing goes toand ends in step 2312 at the completion of thumbnail exhibition of allimages stored in the memory card.

Next, the description is given with reference to the drawings withregard to operation, which a user performs so as to select an imageindicated by numeral 2401 from the thumbnail exhibition shown in FIG. 24and display the image 2401 on the full screen 201.

When the thumbnail exhibition shown in FIG. 24 is displayed, the userpresses the splat key “#” 2505 shown in FIG. 25. Thus, a screen shown inFIG. 26 appears. In FIG. 26, numeral 2601 indicates display frames, eachof which selects a thumbnail image display area. The number of thumbnailimage display areas corresponds to the number of numeric keys 2502 shownin FIG. 25. In the sixth embodiment, the number of numeric keys is setto 9. To select the image indicated by numeral 2401 in FIG. 26 (which isthe same as numeral 2401 in FIG. 24), the user first presses the numerickey “9” of the numeric keys indicated by numeral 2502 in FIG. 25. Bythis operation, the focus frame indicated by numeral 202 in FIG. 26(which is the same as numeral 202 in FIG. 24) is moved to the positionof an image indicated by numeral 2602. Then, the user uses the cursorkeys 2501 shown in FIG. 25 so as to move the focus frame 202 to theposition of the image indicated by numeral 2401. Then, the user pressesthe numeric key “0” 2504 shown in FIG. 25 so as to display the image onthe full screen.

As described above, even when the mobile terminal, such as the mobiletelephone having less than 12 numeric keys, is used for operation, themethod of the sixth embodiment brings the number of thumbnail imagedisplay areas into correspondence with the number of numeric keys of themobile terminal, and thus enables about the same number of operations asthe method of the first embodiment enables. Therefore, the method of thesixth embodiment can reduce the number of operations and thus improveease of operation, as compared to the prior art.

Seventh Embodiment

Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the drawings. The configuration of an image displaydevice according to the seventh embodiment, which the present inventionis to be applied to, is the same as the configuration of the imagedisplay device according to the first, second, third, fourth and fifthembodiments shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 27 shows a remote control for use inthe seventh embodiment. In FIG. 27, parts having the same referencenumerals as the parts shown in FIGS. 6 and 16 have the same functions.In FIG. 27, numeral 2701 denotes a set of eight cursor keys (that is,operating means) which permit eight-directional movements.

When the remote control shown in FIG. 27 is used, 8 assist displayimages, as discussed in the description of the third embodiment, aredisplayed to indicate “up”, “upper right”, “right”, “lower right”,“down”, “lower left”, “left”, and “upper left”, as designated bynumerals 2801 to 2808 in FIG. 28. As mentioned above, the number ofassist display images corresponds to the number of cursor keys of theremote control. This allows a user to move the focus frame and selectany thumbnail image without having difficulty in operating the remotecontrol. Therefore, the method of the seventh embodiment can improveease of operation. In the above-described embodiments, the auxiliaryimage may disappear through the undoing of the pressed key. Similarly,the image oriented in the reference directions may be again rotated bythe angle θ and displayed in its rotated position through the undoing ofthe pressed key.

As described above, the method of the present invention can improve easeof operation with which a user selects an image when many images aresimultaneously displayed on a screen.

1. An image display method for selecting one image from among aplurality of images simultaneously displayed on an image display screenby using an operation device having some keys, the image display methodcomprising the steps of: checking how many keys the operation devicehas: superimposing and displaying an auxiliary image on the screen onwhich the plurality of images are simultaneously displayed, wherein theauxiliary image sets a plurality of areas, each of which contains someimages, on the screen on which the plurality of images aresimultaneously displayed, and wherein a number of the areas is changedaccording to a number of the keys of the operation device; allowing auser to select any area from among the plurality of areas through anoperation of the key corresponding to the area, and thereby limit arange of candidate images for selection to the selected area; andallowing the user to select any image from among the candidate imagesfor selection in the selected area. 2-3. (canceled)
 4. An image displaymethod according to claim 1, wherein the operation device is atelevision remote-control or a mobile telephone.
 5. An image displaymethod according to claim 1, wherein the keys which are used forselecting the area are numeric keys of the operation device, and whereina key which is used for selecting one image from the selected area is asecond key different from the numeric keys. 6-10. (canceled)